Police beat and Community briefs for May 8, 2009

Published: Friday, May 8, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 11:50 p.m.

POLICE BEAT

Man accused of stealing ATMs

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Thursday announced the charging of a Pahokee man in connection with the theft of 11 automated teller machines in nine counties, including a theft in Marion Oaks.

Nasedra Kewon Lumpkin, 33, was charged with grand theft of more $100,000, a first-degree felony, according to an FDLE news release.

Cash in the machines totaling more than $1 million was stolen, and damage to the banks exceeded $575,000 during the thefts, which occurred between January and July of last year.

The Marion County theft occurred around June 6, when equipment was taken from Dirt Boys Inc. and used to steal an ATM from the Bank of America in Marion Oaks, according to the statewide prosecutor's charging document.

Damage to the bank totaled $44,905. The ATM contained $126,739 in cash and deposits at the time.

"Investigators allege that Lumpkin took the ATMs by dislodging them from their base with front end loaders stolen from local construction sites," the news release states. "Lumpkin used the buckets on the front end loaders to remove the ATM machines and lift them into the back of a pickup truck. Lumpkin also routinely stole the pickup trucks used in the thefts."

Lumpkin is in the Leon County Jail following an August arrest because of a July 20 ATM theft in Tallahassee. He will be transferred to Palm Beach County to face the new grand theft charge.

Guns, ammunition stolen from home

DUNNELLON — Six guns and 500 rounds of ammunition were taken from a Dunnellon home early this week, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

The homeowner told deputies that when he arrived home in the 3000 block of S.W. 189th Avenue Wednesday morning he noticed his back door and bathroom window were open. Then he discovered that his weapons — a 9mm, a Beretta rifle, a Stevens shotgun, a Smith & Wesson, a .357 Colt handgun and a Mitchell .22-caliber handgun — were missing. So were 500 rounds of ammunition. Deputies quizzed neighbors, but no one had seen anything out of the ordinary.

Anyone with information about the case can call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Man accused of molesting girl

SUMMERFIELD — A 66-year-old Summerfield man is accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl.

David Ralph Kellar was charged Wednesday with lewd and lascivious molestation, according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report.

The girl's mother told deputies Kellar had been touching her daughter.

Detective Mark Peavy interviewed the alleged victim, who said Kellar asked her to take off her shorts. When she refused, he reportedly told her he would pay her $10 if she removed her shorts and underwear so he could smell them. The girl also said Kellar tried to touch her inappropriately and wanted her to touch him.

Kellar told the detective he did grab the girl in a private area, but only after she tried to take money out of his pocket, according to the report. He also reportedly admitted offering her $10 to take off her shorts and admitted fondling her.

Man rewarded for catching arsonist

A local man who apprehended a juvenile arsonist in March received a $1,000 award Thursday, according to forestry officials.

Earl Johnson had been driving in Ocala and saw the boy kneeling in some grass trying to start a fire behind a pole barn off E. Silver Springs Boulevard belonging to the Division of Forestry. Johnson parked his vehicle and ran back to check. He saw the grass on fire and the boy standing there.

The 16-year-old later told police he saw dry grass and thought it would be cool to start a fire. He reportedly used a cigarette lighter to set the fire. Johnson had grabbed the boy and held him while he called 911.

"His efforts assisted in leading to the arrest of the juvenile on arson charges," said Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Ludie Bond in a news release.

The president of the Florida Forestry Arson Alert Association and representatives of the Division of Forestry made the presentation to Johnson on Thursday, during National Arson Awareness Week, which is May 3-9.

Look out for scam about accounts

Ocala Police Department officials are warning residents to be on the lookout for the latest scam involving personal accounts.

Authorities say that within the last two weeks people have been receiving calls with an automated message telling them their account at Community Bank has been compromised and the bank needs personal information to fix the situation.

Once the scam artist gets hold of the information, such as Social Security numbers, PIN numbers and other sensitive data, it is used for personal gain, according to police.

The department itself has received several of those calls.

Police officials said Community Bank and Trust in Marion County wants to stress that they have no affiliation with the calls.

If anyone receives a call about an account being in jeopardy, they should not respond or give any information. If people are unsure about the situation, officers say they should call or visit their bank to see if there is a problem.

Anyone with information about this or any other scam can call the Police Department at 369-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Witnesses said he entered the bank, at 5431 E. Silver Springs Blvd., gave a teller a note demanding money, received cash and ran from the building. He reportedly threatened to kill the clerk but did not display a weapon.

The robber was described as a 5-foot-10, clean-shaven white man in his mid-50s wearing sunglasses, a white ball cap, green shorts and white polo shirt.

Anyone with information should call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP or visit www.ocalacrime stoppers.com.

Florida's blood centers are in need of all types of blood. Those who donate at a branch will receive a $10 Darden's gift card and T-shirt. The local branch is located at 1051 S.W. 1st Ave., Ocala. For more information, call 732-0175.

Christian Women's Club lunch set

The Ocala Christian Women's Club invites area women to an "As American as Apple Pie Luncheon" from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the Ocala Hilton, 3600 S.W. 36th Ave. The program will include Ellen Marie Ettenger of Edible Arrangements and inspirational speaker Rita Hinson. Cost is $16. Free child care is available. RSVP by May 20 by calling 732-7053.

Golf tournament deadline nearing

DUNNELLON — The Annie W. Johnson Senior and Family Service Center will hold their eighth annual golf tournament beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 23, at Juliette Falls, 6933 S.W. 179th Ave. Road, Dunnellon. Cost is $75 per golfer; registration deadline is May 15. For more information, call Darlene Parker or Christine Avina at 489-8021.

Children's health fair scheduled

The Marion County Health Department will host its sixth annual children's health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16. The fair is free and open to the public and will include free food, beverages, cookie decorating, face painting, clowns, arts and crafts, games and door prizes. The event will provide free school physicals for first-time students entering the Marion County Public Schools system, children's immunizations, vision and hearing screening, height and weight checks, and information about summer camps. For more information, call 629-0137.

Lake Eaton Fishing Derby Saturday

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and partners are holding a second Lake Eaton Kids' Fishing Derby from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at FWC's Ocala Conservation Center and Youth Camp in the Ocala National Forest. The derby is free for children ages 5 through 12. Register by calling 732-1225 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

STATE

Ex-deputy gets two years probation

FORT LAUDERDALE — A former Broward County sheriff's deputy has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges that he inappropriately touched two women during traffic stops.

Charles E. Grady, 39, was adjudicated guilty Thursday to two counts of misdemeanor battery. He will serve two years probation and undergo a psychological evaluation.

<p class="bold allcaps">POLICE BEAT</p>
<p><b>Man accused of stealing ATMs</b></p><p>The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Thursday announced the charging of a Pahokee man in connection with the theft of 11 automated teller machines in nine counties, including a theft in Marion Oaks.</p><p>Nasedra Kewon Lumpkin, 33, was charged with grand theft of more $100,000, a first-degree felony, according to an FDLE news release.</p><p>Cash in the machines totaling more than $1 million was stolen, and damage to the banks exceeded $575,000 during the thefts, which occurred between January and July of last year.</p><p>The Marion County theft occurred around June 6, when equipment was taken from Dirt Boys Inc. and used to steal an ATM from the Bank of America in Marion Oaks, according to the statewide prosecutor's charging document.</p><p>Damage to the bank totaled $44,905. The ATM contained $126,739 in cash and deposits at the time.</p><p>"Investigators allege that Lumpkin took the ATMs by dislodging them from their base with front end loaders stolen from local construction sites," the news release states. "Lumpkin used the buckets on the front end loaders to remove the ATM machines and lift them into the back of a pickup truck. Lumpkin also routinely stole the pickup trucks used in the thefts."</p><p>Lumpkin is in the Leon County Jail following an August arrest because of a July 20 ATM theft in Tallahassee. He will be transferred to Palm Beach County to face the new grand theft charge.</p><p><b>Guns, ammunition stolen from home</b></p><p>DUNNELLON  Six guns and 500 rounds of ammunition were taken from a Dunnellon home early this week, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>The homeowner told deputies that when he arrived home in the 3000 block of S.W. 189th Avenue Wednesday morning he noticed his back door and bathroom window were open. Then he discovered that his weapons  a 9mm, a Beretta rifle, a Stevens shotgun, a Smith & Wesson, a .357 Colt handgun and a Mitchell .22-caliber handgun  were missing. So were 500 rounds of ammunition. Deputies quizzed neighbors, but no one had seen anything out of the ordinary.</p><p>Anyone with information about the case can call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p><b>Man accused of molesting girl</b></p><p>SUMMERFIELD  A 66-year-old Summerfield man is accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl.</p><p>David Ralph Kellar was charged Wednesday with lewd and lascivious molestation, according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report.</p><p>The girl's mother told deputies Kellar had been touching her daughter.</p><p>Detective Mark Peavy interviewed the alleged victim, who said Kellar asked her to take off her shorts. When she refused, he reportedly told her he would pay her $10 if she removed her shorts and underwear so he could smell them. The girl also said Kellar tried to touch her inappropriately and wanted her to touch him.</p><p>Kellar told the detective he did grab the girl in a private area, but only after she tried to take money out of his pocket, according to the report. He also reportedly admitted offering her $10 to take off her shorts and admitted fondling her.</p><p><b>Man rewarded for catching arsonist</b></p><p>A local man who apprehended a juvenile arsonist in March received a $1,000 award Thursday, according to forestry officials.</p><p>Earl Johnson had been driving in Ocala and saw the boy kneeling in some grass trying to start a fire behind a pole barn off E. Silver Springs Boulevard belonging to the Division of Forestry. Johnson parked his vehicle and ran back to check. He saw the grass on fire and the boy standing there. </p><p>The 16-year-old later told police he saw dry grass and thought it would be cool to start a fire. He reportedly used a cigarette lighter to set the fire. Johnson had grabbed the boy and held him while he called 911.</p><p>"His efforts assisted in leading to the arrest of the juvenile on arson charges," said Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Ludie Bond in a news release.</p><p>The president of the Florida Forestry Arson Alert Association and representatives of the Division of Forestry made the presentation to Johnson on Thursday, during National Arson Awareness Week, which is May 3-9.</p><p><b>Look out for scam about accounts</b></p><p>Ocala Police Department officials are warning residents to be on the lookout for the latest scam involving personal accounts.</p><p>Authorities say that within the last two weeks people have been receiving calls with an automated message telling them their account at Community Bank has been compromised and the bank needs personal information to fix the situation.</p><p>Once the scam artist gets hold of the information, such as Social Security numbers, PIN numbers and other sensitive data, it is used for personal gain, according to police. </p><p>The department itself has received several of those calls.</p><p>Police officials said Community Bank and Trust in Marion County wants to stress that they have no affiliation with the calls.</p><p>If anyone receives a call about an account being in jeopardy, they should not respond or give any information. If people are unsure about the situation, officers say they should call or visit their bank to see if there is a problem.</p><p>Anyone with information about this or any other scam can call the Police Department at 369-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p><b>Authorities hunt for bank robber</b></p><p>SILVER SPRINGS  A man robbed the BB&T bank on E. Silver Springs Boulevard shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday.</p><p>Witnesses said he entered the bank, at 5431 E. Silver Springs Blvd., gave a teller a note demanding money, received cash and ran from the building. He reportedly threatened to kill the clerk but did not display a weapon.</p><p>The robber was described as a 5-foot-10, clean-shaven white man in his mid-50s wearing sunglasses, a white ball cap, green shorts and white polo shirt.</p><p>Anyone with information should call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP or visit www.ocalacrime stoppers.com.</p><h3>COMMUNITY</h3>
<p><b>Recycling center taking furniture</b></p><p>DUNNELLON  The Florida Highlands Recycling Center will accept household furniture starting at 7 a.m. Saturday at 8390 S.W. 150th St., Dunnellon. For more information, call 671-8465 or visit http://www.marion countyfl.org/SolidWaste/SpecialPrograms_ FurnitureCollection.aspx</p><p><b>All blood types needed at centers</b></p><p>Florida's blood centers are in need of all types of blood. Those who donate at a branch will receive a $10 Darden's gift card and T-shirt. The local branch is located at 1051 S.W. 1st Ave., Ocala. For more information, call 732-0175. </p><p><b>Christian Women's Club lunch set</b></p><p>The Ocala Christian Women's Club invites area women to an "As American as Apple Pie Luncheon" from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the Ocala Hilton, 3600 S.W. 36th Ave. The program will include Ellen Marie Ettenger of Edible Arrangements and inspirational speaker Rita Hinson. Cost is $16. Free child care is available. RSVP by May 20 by calling 732-7053.</p><p><b>Golf tournament deadline nearing</b></p><p>DUNNELLON  The Annie W. Johnson Senior and Family Service Center will hold their eighth annual golf tournament beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 23, at Juliette Falls, 6933 S.W. 179th Ave. Road, Dunnellon. Cost is $75 per golfer; registration deadline is May 15. For more information, call Darlene Parker or Christine Avina at 489-8021.</p><p><b>Children's health fair scheduled</b></p><p>The Marion County Health Department will host its sixth annual children's health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16. The fair is free and open to the public and will include free food, beverages, cookie decorating, face painting, clowns, arts and crafts, games and door prizes. The event will provide free school physicals for first-time students entering the Marion County Public Schools system, children's immunizations, vision and hearing screening, height and weight checks, and information about summer camps. For more information, call 629-0137.</p><p><b>Lake Eaton Fishing Derby Saturday</b></p><p>The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and partners are holding a second Lake Eaton Kids' Fishing Derby from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at FWC's Ocala Conservation Center and Youth Camp in the Ocala National Forest. The derby is free for children ages 5 through 12. Register by calling 732-1225 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.</p><h3>STATE</h3>
<p><b>Ex-deputy gets two years probation</b></p><p>FORT LAUDERDALE  A former Broward County sheriff's deputy has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges that he inappropriately touched two women during traffic stops.</p><p>Charles E. Grady, 39, was adjudicated guilty Thursday to two counts of misdemeanor battery. He will serve two years probation and undergo a psychological evaluation.</p>